Maybe that's why Mazda's 626 now just known as the 6. While hardly as dramatic as dropping a brand name, playing with numbers gives the impression of change. The same designation process will affect the entire Mazda lineup next year; when the Protegé become the 3 and so on.
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| Even Mercedes-Benz felt the need for a model designation shuffle, moving the letter designation before the numbers instead of after. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz) |
While it might seem foolish to mess with the Protegé name, arguably one of the most respected models in the compact segment of the market, despite its improper spelling (protégé has two accents), Mazda is attempting to overhaul its entire brand image similar to how Acura did years ago. Mercedes-Benz did this when it reversed its number/letter designations to letter/number; i.e. the 300 E became the E320, showing the Euros aren't immune to a need for wholesale change.
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| Lexus is one of the few to buck the renaming trend, and has had the ES and LS since the brand's inception, while its GS, SC, RX and LX model names have never changed. (Photo: Lexus) |
The list goes on to include Audi, Volvo and even Ferrari making name changes, albeit the prancing horse brand only changes model names, other than second generation models that just receive the number designation followed by M for modificato (modified), when it comes out with an all new vehicle.
Of particular note, other than Ferrari, the most successful brands don't change model names very often, and some never at all. Lexus for instance, has had the ES and LS since the brand's inception, while its GS, SC, RX and LX model names have never changed.